THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Beat gold in the open air (7)

4 Operatic heroine many imitate (5)

7 The song told a story (4)

8 Wise step in the present era (5,3)

10 Not a direct form of slander (10)

12 New wars or old weapons (6)

13 Stop and have a drink (6)

15 Sea water in one’s watch (10)

18 and 2 Down: Survives a heavy blow (8,3,5) 19 Prokofiev has no proof it’s on the Dnieper (4)

20 Spaniard or anyone else with a present (5)

21 Purposes of French roadside warnings (7)

DOWN

1 Bribed not to squeal? (5)

2 See 18 Across

3 Standing tree up again (6)

4 Little may be seen through it (10) 5 Doctor meets sailor in Biblical kingdom (4)

6 He becomes involved with a cheat and is naturally spotted (7)

9 Unfair conditions (3,7)

11 Walking free of pain outside (8)

12 Let everyone with a ring get married (7) 14 Disturbed drones didn’t enjoy quiet retirement (6)

16 Yields to pressure and hands over (5) 17 Once more without a profit (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Surgical knife (7) 4 Pugnacity (5)

7 Rebuke angrily (4) 8 Troops stationed in fort (8)

10 In advance (10) 12 Approach and speak to (6) 13 Turn on a pivot (6) 15 Rashness (10) 18 Unswervingly loyal (4,4) 19 To leave (4)

20 Form of football (5) 21 Exhibition (7)

DOWN

1 Brushwood (5)

2 Crafty trick (8)

3 Abominate (6)

4 Over great areas and distances (3,3,4)

5 The main point (4)

6 Melodious (7)

9 No doubt (10)

11 Ultimate (8)

12 Judge (7)

14 Approximately (6)

16 Admission (5)

17 Step of ladder (4)